Russia expands visa-free regime for Georgian citizens
- 12 October, 11:21
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to expand the visa-free regime for Georgian citizens.
Under the decree signed on October 10, Georgian citizens arriving in Russian Federation for purpose of work and education, will be granted temporary stay for the period of 90 days. Previously, Georgian nationals were required to obtain visa in order study or work in Russia.
Russia introduced visa restrictions for Georgian citizens back in 2000 and banned air travel with the South Caucasus country in July 2019 in response to anti-Kremlin protests in Georgia. In May last year, Russia lifted the visa regime with the country as well as the ban on air travel.
Kremlin’s Press Secretary Dmitri Peskov said on Thursday that the new decree was not connected to a new stage in the diplomatic ties between Russia and Georgia. “Interstate relations are one thing, humanitarian relations are another. When it comes to dialogue between the peoples of the two countries, it has not been interrupted. These are normal processes,” Peskov said.
Georgia severed diplomatic relations with Moscow following Russia’s recognition of breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions in 2008. However, opponents of the country’s ruling Georgia Dream party have accused the government of being pro-Russian. These charges intensified after the Georgian parliament passed the controversial foreign agent law that amid pass protests.
